Police in Bihar’s Kosi division arrested 2,717 suspected traffickers during an ongoing anti-narcotics campaign running across Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura districts since February 2026.[1] During the campaign, police recovered 8,254.794 kilograms of ganja across the three districts alongside illicit liquor, cough syrup, smack and injectable narcotics.[1] Police figures indicated that following the state’s alcohol prohibition, the regional illicit drug trade shifted increasingly toward ganja, smack, codeine syrup and narcotic injections.[1]
In the week from 31 October to 6 November 2026, police operations in Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura seized 52.104 kilograms of ganja, 1,788.35 litres of illicit liquor, 173.69 grams of smack and 25.9 litres of codeine syrup.[1] Officers arrested 71 people in illicit liquor cases and 13 people on dry-narcotics offences during that single week.[1] Across the entire campaign since February, police also confiscated four pistols, ten country-made firearms, 47 cartridges, 110 mobile phones, 43 four-wheeled vehicles, five heavy vehicles and boats, and cash in Indian and Nepalese currency.[1]
Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Kosi range Dr Kumar Ashish established a public helpline to receive confidential tips on narcotics dealers, trade locations, photos and videos.[1] Residents in Saharsa reported that dealers at the Shankar Chowk market were openly selling intoxicants using digital payment scanners to avoid cash handling.[1] Local residents asked police to conduct intensive raids and inspections around Shankar Chowk, where authorities had previously seized ganja and cough syrup and arrested traffickers.[1]
